Fresh water tropical fish -Problems

Question
Hi Karen,

Thanks for your quick reply.

I have posted some pictures of my catfish on my website.  Please go to the below URL.

http://mysite.verizon.net/~ujsc

My email is ujsc@verizon.net (I do not mind you knowing my email -  you are helping me   : )  <-- happy face

Please note the brown stuff on the back of the fish, the fins on the body seemed to be missing or disappearing and the white spot on one side.  Also, this one fish is constantly swimming around.

I just purchased MELAFIX which fixes fin and tail rot and other issues.

Thanks again.


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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi Karen,

I am new to maintaining fresh water tropical fish.  I have 2 small catfish about 2" long.  One started to get a white spot on the body and a brown looking color along the back of the body and near the gill.  The other catfish just has the brown color long it back.

I am not sure what the brown stuff.  I started treating (11/3/2006) the white spots with Mardel Maracide.

I lost a Mickey Mouse fish last week it had a white spot too.  I have also started (11/3/2006) to slowly raise the water temp up each day.  I will try to get to 80 degrees.

What is this stuff and what should I use to treat it and how long for the treatment.

If you would like to see some digital pics of the fish in question, let me know and I will e-mail them to you.

My fish and I thank you in advance for your help !
-----Answer-----
Dear Joe,
What species of catfish are these? Knowing this may help in considering if the brown stuff isn't just natural coloration.

Sometimes one or two white spots can appear on a fish and it is not white spot parasites but actually a sight of injury. These white spots look very much like white spot parasites but no treatment is needed as they will go away in a few days as the injury heals. Most white spot infestations start with the entire fish looking as if he were sprinkled with salt or sugar.
But it is also possible that most of the infestation is in the gills are not showing up yet. Slowly raising the temperature is a very good idea with treating white spot.

I worry that your water quality may be very poor. Both due to this aquarium possibly being fairly newly setup, and to the medication use. Many medications destroy your beneficial bacterial colony which are so vital in maintaing healthy and ammonia free-water.

Water changes solve these kinds of problems. Please try to do at least 50% everyday during treatment. Even though Mardel meds say it isn't neccesary. Water changes are vital in relieving stress on your fish from the poor water quality and they also help remove excess parasites in the water or gravel. Remember to always insure your replacement new water is always dechlorinated with water conditioner and of equal temperature to that of your aquarium everytime.

Seeing a clear picture of your catfish would be most excellent. Although I cannot give out my email adress nor am I allowed to know yours...You can visit "Tropicalresources.net" and easily post a picture there under the forum. I am a member and can easily go and see the picture(s) you posted. You must register there first however. And please let me know where you post it if you do.

Thank you! I really hope we can solve your catfish problems.

Best wishes,
Karen~  

Answer
Hi Joe,
Thank for the fine pictures you linked me to. I could see each one of them. What I'm worried about it is your catfish (which I am certain is a Emerald Cory) looks like he has maybe a fungus growth on his side. Does the white spot look fuzzy at all? If so, then it could certainly be fungus which often attacks where a fish is wounded. The little cory looks pretty rough I'll admit, with torn fins and the big white patch on his left side. Telling from the pictures, it almost looks like he might have a touch of whitish fungal growth on his torn fins as well.

If you are certain your corydora has fungus then you must begin treatment right away. First, before medicating, I would preform a 50% water change. Then you could certainly try Melafix. However, Pimafix is similar to Melafix but is more geared towards treating fungal infections then melafix is. You might want to get some of that first. I have found that the most important thing to do when treating any fish illness, is daily large water changes. At least 50% is great, being sure the replacement water is equal in temperature to that of your aquarium and insuring it is dechlorinated everytime.

By the way, the brown coloration appears very, very much like normal coloration of the emerald or "Bronze" cory.

This poor cory needs some help! This is what I would do-
*Do a 50% water change and gravel vacuum well--treat replacement water properly of course
*Remove carbon out of your filter and start dosing with Melafix and/or Pimafix (they can be safely combined)
*Make sure the water temperature is warm--at least 78- ideally 80F
*Try to do 50% water changes every to every other day. This is essential for proper healing.

You may only have to treat for 7 days or you may have to treat for the extended 14 days or so as usually recommended by the label.

I really hope this helps and feel free to let me know how your Cories and other fish are doing.

Best wishes as always,
Karen~